Hear, O My people, if you would but listen to Me!《Ps 81:8-14》

· Read <Ps81:8-14>

1.  <v8> God's people should first open their ears to hear the voice of God.

· Shema is crucial to the Torah: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!<Dt6:4–9,11:13–21; Num15:37–41>

2.   <v9-10i> The Lord is so jealous that He forbids His people to make or worship any new gods.

· Different from the order as observed by Moses - <Ex 20:2,4> and <Deut 5:6,8>.

· First the prohibition, then the reason for the ban is given. Why?

3.   <v10> Salvation shall be their bondage, that they may serve the Lord.

· The three arguments God used to bring Israel into complete obedience to Him:

1）He is Jehovah.

2）He fulfilled the promises given to the fathers and confirmed His divinity by actually bringing Israel out of Egypt.

3）He promises that He will fill those who persevere in time to come.

4.   <v11> From the beginning, they have rebelled with hardened and stubborn hearts. Therefore, Israel would have none of Jehovah.

5.   <v12> Therefore, Jehovah will give them up to the thoughts of their own heart.

· God's governance is more than management. God's providence must have restraints put into place.

· The grace of God can be resisted unless there is effectual call from God.

6.   <v13-14> As a father rebukes all, He points out that it is their own foolishness that hinders their victories.